Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • December 10, 2021 9 Travels to Medjugorje: Prayer is a Hidden Treasure STORY AND PHOTOS BY RAQUEL S. DERGANZ BAKER On October 5, 40 people took a pil- grimage originally planned over a year ago. The pilgrims included the Most Reverend Louis F. Kihneman III, two priests, two deacons, Catholics from mul- tiple parishes, and representatives from Catholic Journeys . The group, made up of people from both North and South America, flew thousands of miles to pray to and show devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Medjugorje. The city, located in Bosnia-Herzegovina, has been a hub for Catholics since 1981 when the Blessed Virgin Mary visited a group of young people at a place that is now called Apparition Hill. “So, I had felt a call for a number of years from Our Lady to come and be with the people of Medjugorje, the people of St. James Church, and the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina and their faith and their devotion,” said Bishop Kihneman. During the eight-day pilgrimage, the group participated in daily prayers, Masses, and chances to interact with a local woman who is still being visited by Our Lady. Over 20-hour trip Most of the group started their pil- grimage in New Orleans, LA, and then flew to Houston, TX, Frankfurt, Germany, and finally, Dubrovnik, Croatia. After a good night’s sleep in Dubrovnik, the pilgrims gathered for a private daily Mass at St. Blaise Church with Bishop Kihneman as the main cele- brant. After the Mass, the group took a private walking tour around the old city despite a considerable amount of rain. The guide told them some of the history of the city and even cracked some jokes along the way. Later in the day, the group had some free time for lunch before hit- ting the road and heading to Medjugorje. The promise land After a long bus ride, which included multiple bor- der stops, the pilgrims arrived at their much-desired destination...Medjugorje. “We are finally here. We’ve waited two years to get here,” said Ninfa Jacobs the first night at dinner. To end their first night the pilgrims gathered after dinner for prayers. Their beautiful voices filled the cha- pel that evening. Then, before heading to bed, each pilgrim was given a prayer rock with a message written on it. Over the course of the trip, the pilgrims received five rocks from the tour guides with messages from Our Lady. The next morning, a rooster, their alarms, and cold showers awakened the pilgrims. Once everyone was done with breakfast, the group headed to a Mass said in English held on the grounds of St. James Church in Medjugorje. Due to COVID, Masses weren’t being held in the church. Instead, they were held in a building behind the church which locals call the “Yellow Room.” Bishop Kihneman along with two priests from the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi, Fr. Michael Snyder and Fr. Michael Austin, were the celebrants, and two deacons from the group assisted with the Mass. Linden Williams said it was “awe- some” to see Bishop Kihneman celebrate Mass alongside priests that she’d recog- nized from religious websites. Williams was beaming after Mass and said she “felt transported.” The Catholic Journeys group weren’t the only pilgrims in attendance. The building was packed with Catholics from all over the globe. Williams described the experience as “powerful” and noted how reverent every- one in attendance was. Once the Mass was over, the pilgrims began the journey up Apparition Hill. The hill was the place where a few very spe- cial young people during the 80s first saw Our Lady. When most people think of a hill, they think of a small to medium- sized mound covered in grass. Apparition Hill was a treacherous climb that included steep rocks. Of course, there were several billy goat jokes floating around. Many people climbed the hill with assistance from others in the group, a few complete strangers, and walking sticks. On the way up the hill, pilgrims stopped at huge bronze plaques placed along the way and recited the Joyful Mysteries. At the top, there is a beautiful statue of Mary. Many people chose to sit and pray at her feet. Marija Pavlović After a long day of climbingApparition Hill and then having dinner, the Catholic Journeys pilgrims were joined by another group staying at the same retreat house and had a private prayer session with Marija Pavlović. She was one of the original people who saw the Blessed Mother in 1981. Pavlović runs the retreat center the pilgrims were staying at and still has visitations by Our Mother. During their second night in Medjugorje, the pilgrims were able to be in the room while Pavlović experienced an apparition. Pavlović said Mary came to her in a gold dress saying she had seen the pilgrims arrive the day before “on her day”, the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary. Mary, through Pavlović, told the pilgrims the importance of praying the rosary. Pavlović transmitted several other messages to the people in the room. At one point, a pilgrim from another group was so moved that she collapsed. Later in the evening pilgrims had the opportunity to talk with Pavlović. SEE MEDJUGORJE PILGRIMAGE, PAGE 11 Pilgrims from the Diocese of Biloxi Pilgrims from the Diocese of Biloxi pray on the Apparition Hill of Podbrdo in Medjugorje.